Door handle and locking assembly



March 22, 1960 H. A. coE

DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 12, 1958 FIG. l. 33i"""'2"""""` Y FIG. 2. i

INVENTOR HERBERT A. COE

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ATTORNEYS.

DOOR HANDLE AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY Herbert A. Coe, Levittown, Pa.,assigner to Magna Enterprize, Inc., Fairless Hills, Pa., a corporationof Penn- Sylvania Appiication February 12, 1958, Seriai No. 714,882 6Claims. (Ci. 292-169) This invention relates to an improved door handleand locking assembly for fastening a door latching device to a door.

The invention contemplates the use of the conventional door latchmechanism employing the familiar distensible and retractable latch boltencased in a latch housing. ln the conventional latch mechanism, thespring-biased latch bolt projects from its housing to engage a catchplate on the door jamb. The bolt is retracted by turning of the doorknob from which a latch bar extends to register with a square hole in aturnable cam regulating member of the mechanism. In the illustratedembodiment, each door knob is provided with its own latch bar inregister with a respective one of a pair of regulating cams. Each camand thus each door knob is able to operate independently latch boltmovement. Consequently, turning of either one of the door knobs willretract the latch bolt against the latch spring, whereas release of thedoor knob will cause the bolt to return to its distensible position.

lt will be understood that the invention is applicable to all types ofdoor handle and locking assemblies of the general type illustratedherein.

lt is the main object of the instant invention to provide a door handleand locking assembly made up of a pair of door knobs and associatedmembers by which means the assembly may be installed and fastened to adoor of any width in a relatively short time and without the use ofscrews or other extraneous fastening devices.

it is a further object of the instant invention to provide door handleand attaching means therefor wherein the installation and assembly of adoor latching device to a door is easily and quickly accomplished byboring a hole into the edge of the door into which the latch mechanismis inserted and by boring another hole across the door from one to theother of its sides (the second hole intersects the first hole) intowhich a pair of door knobs and associated parts constituting the handleand locking assembly are inserted. Each door knob is inserted into thetransverse hole from an opposite door side. The locking assemblyincludes mutually interlocking means such that when the clasping partsof the pair of knobs are joined upon insertion of the knobs into thetransverse hole, the entire door latch device becomes firmly clamped tothe door and ready for operation. One notable advantage of the inventionis that the holes need not be precision-made, nor need the alinement ofthese holes be exact. The interlocking assembly includes means whichautomatically aline and retain the interlocking handle assembly inproper assembled relationship to the door. Consequently, installation ofthe foregoing door handle and locking assembly may be effected with aminimum of skill, attention and labor by the person doing same. Thedesign incorporating the invention is such that the possibility ofincorrect assembly is practically eliminated so that a person notskilled in such work may without any difficulty install the door latchwithin a relatively short period of time.

nited States Patent C ice It is a further object of the instantinvention to provide an improved door handle assembly which affords asolid attachment of a door latch device to a door wherein end play andrattling of the door knobs and other associated parts of the assembly ispractically eliminated during use.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of the invention taken in conjunction with the figures, inwhich:

Fig. l is a plan elevational view of the door handle assembly showing apair of door knobs and associated locking mechanism mounted injuxtaposition with respect to a door, which door is shown in phantom inthe gure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking in a direction of line 2-2 of Fig. 1 andillustrates the locking mechanism members associated with the lefthanddoor knob shown in Fig. l; whereas Fig. 3 is a corresponding view forthe righthand door knob;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the door handle assemblytaken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan elevation of the latch mechanism employed with the doorhandle assembly illustrated in the aforesaid figures;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the latch mechanism taken in thedirection of line 6-6 of Fig. 5', and

Fig. 7 is a plan elevation of a retaining plate used in the aforesaidhandle assembly.

Referring in detail to the figures, the invention contempiates use ofa'conventional door latching mechanism 10 employing the familiardistensible and retractable latch bolt 11 encased in its latch housing12. Latch bolt 11 generally projects from its housing 12 through anopening in the housing end plate 13 to engage a catch plate, not shownherein, on the door jamb under the force of a compressed latch springalso lodged in housing 12. Bolt 11 may be retracted against the forceVof the latch spring by turning a door knob which is connected to anoperating latch bar. The latter generally registers with a square holeof a regulating cam of the locking mechanism 10. It will be understoodthat turning of the cam causes retraction of bolt 11 into its housing12, whereas the latch spring causes bolt 11 to return to its distensibleposition upon release of the door knob.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of similar door knobs 14, 15 areeach provided with their own operating latch bars 16, 17 in registerwith square openings 18 of respective ones of two cams 19, eachseparately capable of causing bolt movement. The figures show only oneof such regulating cams 19, note Fig. 5. It will be understood that theother cam is similarly disposed on the opposite side of latch mechanism10. Consequently, turning of each knob 14, 15 independently operateslatch bolt movement.

In order to assemble the door` latch to a door 29 (which door is shownin phantom in Figs. 1 and 4), a hole 21 is formed in the door from itsedge 22 into which latch mechanism 10 will be inserted. In addition, asecond hole 23 is bored through door 20 from one to the other of its twosides to receive the door handle assembly. As noted hereinbefore, holes21, 23 need not be precision made in respect to size and alinement inorder to achieve attachment of latch mechanism 10 and door knobs 14, 15in proper assembled relationship to door 20.

The invention contemplates a housing end plate 13 provided withdiametrically spaced and inwardly turned stabilizing stakes 24. The useof stakes 24 as shown herein eliminates the relatively diicult carpentrynormally attending the installation of prior art door latches whereinthe latch is inesrted into the hole 21 and then removed after door edge22 is suitably marked. 1 The marked area is chiseled out in order torecess the end plate of the prior art latch when said latch is nallyIcolla finnish@ the foregoing described marking and chiselin'g. Sincethe periphery of end plate 13 overlaps the open end of hole 21 intheplaneV of door `edge 22, stakes 24 are adapted to be driven into dooredge 22 as latch mechanism 10 is being inserted into bore 21. A hammerblow will accomplish this.v Desirable alinement of latch mechanism itiin hole 21 is made possible by arranging stakes 24 so that theygwill liealong a vertical line.

Upon mounting kthe door handle assembly to the door, each door knob 14,15 confronts a correlated end'of transverse opening 23 on opposite sidesof the door. Each knob '14,15 has a spindle 25, 26; The terminating endof each spindle 25, 26 is provided with an operating and Vsquare shapedlatch bar 16, 17; VEach spindle also has aV shoulder stop 27, 28 andanadjacently spaced grooved collar 29, 30. Similar escutcheous 31 aremounted on each spindle.. Escutcheons 31 have inner faces spaced from,confronting and. radially overlapping opening 23 on the opposite sidesofthe door. Escutcheons 31 also have Ysurrounding peripheral anges 33, theinner edges of which are adapted to bear directly against the doorsides. i

' Locking member 34 is provided with a central open ing and is mountedon one of the door knob spindles, such as knob 14. Locking member 34 isprovided with a'relativelyat face confronting shoulder stop 27 and witha pair of spaced'ratchet arms 35,36 and also with a lug 37.

It willjbe understood that knob-14is free to turnin respect to lockingVmember 34 without binding between these parts. When knob 14 ismounted tothe door, arms 35, 36 extend axially into opening 23r toward theopposite doot knob .and straddle latch mechanism 10, whereas lug 37registers with a slot 38m iatch mechanism 10. Irrsertion of lug 37 intoslot 38 suitably, alines ratchet arms 35,V 36 inopening 21 tofacilitate-interlocking connections with parts associated with the otherdoor knob when the latter knob is mounted to the door. it will be underVstood thatupon insertion of knob 14 into bore 21, the

knob is turned so that its Vlatch bar 16 registers with the correlatedsquare hole opening 18.

Locking member y34 is. retained in assembled relationship on spindle 2Smy a rectangular shaped and contiguous retaining plate39 provided with amultiple diametered opening'40a, b. The larger diametered portion' 4tnof` said opening permits mounting of plate 39 over v grooved collar 29.The edge of the vsmaller diametered locking'of the door handleassembly'. V'I`l1ecombined Y effectY of lug 37 in register with slot 38and spikes 46 serves to hold latch mechanism 10 against forward movement out of hole 21. This structural arrangement locks latch mechanism10 in place and, in addition, retains theI disclosed door handleassembly relatively iirm and solid in assembled relationship duringjuse.

A second locking member is provided with a central opening and ismounted on the other door knob spindle 26. Locking member 50 is providedwith a relatively iiat face confronting shoulder stop 28. Locking member50 yhas a pair of spaced rockable'arms V51, 52 mounted for Ypivotingabout axes parallel to .theaxis ofr 53a, band 54a, 'b. An end 55 ofVeach arm 51, 52 is outwardly turned and passes through respectiveopenings 56 in locking member 50Yso as to abut against inner surface 32of the associated escutcheon. This determines the maximum'divergingturning allowed the two arms 51, 52 about their pivotal'axes. The innerends of pivotal arms 51, 52 are provided with pawl lingers 57, 58 andopposed upstandin-g guide lugs'59.V

Lockingmember 50 is retained; adjacent shoulder stop 28 by a resilientand H-shaped retaining .plate 60` provided With a relatively at webportion 61 from which opposed Vpairs of legs 62, 63 extend radiallyso asto overlap opening 23. Legs62, 63 are vnormally bowed to pressresilientl-y against the' correlated door- V side upon mounting knob 15to the door. r Retaining member 60 is also provided with a.multi-diametered opening 64.Y

parts assembled'thereron. Locking member'50 also basan extensionfolded-over the web 61 of retaining member ,60 to prevent buckling or.jamming of the web portion 61 against collar 30 when pressure isapplied to legsf62,

portion v40h of said opening, which serves as a retaining slot,registers with the groove of collar 29 upon Vlateral movement of plate39 with respect Vto member 34. Plate 39 retains member 34 adjacent, butnot binding against, shoulder stop 27. It'will also'be understood thatthe -edge of. hole 10b is loosely engaged in vthegroove of collar 29sothat knobl4 and spindle 25 integral therewith fdoes not Vstickbut. isfree toturn Vrelative to the parts asf sembled thereon. Retaining plate3 9 is also provided with elongated slots. 41 through which ratchet arms35,

36 project. Slots 41 also serve toY prevent rotation of plate 39relative to member 34. Y

Locking member34 is also provided with depressed recesses 42, 43 at itsopposite-ends. lRecesses 42, 43 are .adapted to snap under detents 44,45 in liange 33 of the associated escutcheon so as to holdsaidescutcheon rmly to knob 14. llt will be observed fromFig. 4 that theo uter peripheral edges 49 of the underneath locking member 34 terminatewithin the overlapping, opposite and `depressed ends. 42, 43 ofretaining plate 39. VThisprevents shifting or detachment of theassociated parts byrea'son ofY theshifting ofv edge of Vhole 491i out ofthe grooveof relationship. Y A e v lnwardlyturned spikes V46 'are`providedon radial legs of Ythe` underneath locking `rne'rnber 34.Spikes A46y vare Y adapted to Ybite into the door side when knob- 14'and its r 29 after these parts are mounted in asseml'iltulV 63.V Web-61is notched at 48 to recess folded extension 65. A coil spring 66, V67 ismountedV on the vjournal of each rockable arm 51, 52. Each spring 66, 67isproyided with an end loop 68, 69 extending-radially'tow'ard flange 33o fwrits associated escutcheon. .The opposed peripheral ends 70, 71 ofretaining .plate 60 -arelrecessed rto-receive respective onesofthe-spring end loops 68, 69,. .The'esfcutcheonis detachably retainedto its associated parts 5.0., 6() by opposed detents 72, 73initsperipheral flange 33.v Detentsv72, 7 3 are designed to snap overVand V'engagespring endloops 68, 69. Springs 66, 67 are put undertension when end loops thereof 68,769-are drawnback'and held Vby detents72, 73. 'Since the other ends of said springs bear against the backsurfaces 74, "75 of rockable arms 51, 52, thetensioned springs piv-V'roftally Yurge the vkrockable arms to diverge whereby the pai/vllingers 'thereof are di'posed to engage correlated ones Vof saidratchetarms 35, 36.

Upon insertion of door knob 15 and the parts mounted thereto 'tothedoorythe divergingrrockablearms 51, 52 extend relatively yaxiallyinto opening 23 and the pavvl tinfgers'the'reoffSZ158 interlock withrespectiveones of v YP "'sid'e's.` It will 'be'under'stoodthatuponfinsertion of knob 15, it will be turnedA so 'that its operatingbar 17 engages .r`at"chet:arms r35, 36 :so that each of fonepar claspsa'cor'related onelof the otherpair., lhe a.foresaidstifuc Y tureprovides automatic 'and mutual interlocking ofthe handleassembly'wherein'each door knob VV14,15 andthe "associated therewith'become clampedfto the door tliesquare hole 18Aofthe'regi1latin'g'cam onitsfdoor side. Ratchet anis 35, 36 iclude'fa plurality of spacedvvrefesses 16,' 77 for receiving pawi nngersfsa'ss; inselepctive ones ofsaid recesses as determined bythe ik'or width.

Consequently, the'spacing between the Vinterlocked door knobs 14, 15 maybe regulated to accommodate doors of dilerent widths. In addition, theinner ends of ratchet arms are inclined at 78 to facilitate interlockingengagement of the arms as they are brought together. It is alsodesirable to make two of the bracket arms, such as 53a and 54a, fromwhich rockable arms 51, 52 are journaled, of sufficient length so thatthey straddle along theltop and bottom of latch mechanism when knob ismounted to the door. This arrangement provides a structural support tolatch mechanism 10 to help retain it properly in bore 21.

Mounting of knob 15 to the door causes resilient legs 62, 63 to pressagainst the door side. This arrangement retains the door assemblyrelatively tight and in place even if the door should shrink during use.In addition, springs 66, 67 in the region 79 adjacent their end loopsare adapted to press against the door side when knob 15 is mountedthereto. This arrangement automatically retains spring tension so thatduring use of the handle assembly, rockable arms 51, 52 are alwayspivotally urged to retain interlocking engagement with ratchet arms 35,36.

It is desirable to provide spacing lugs 80 turned outwardly from theends of locking member 50, four lugs 80 are employed in the illustratedembodiment. Lugs 8G engage inner face 32 of the associated escutcheonfor the purpose of properly spacing said inner surface from theconfronting parts associated therewith.

The mounted and interlocked door handle assembly may be easily detachedfrom the door. This is done by tirst prying loose the righthandescutcheon from detent engagement with spring end loops 68, 69 in orderto expose rockable arms 51, 52. A suitable tool, such as a screwdriver,may be used for this purpose. The escutchcon can be pushed away from thedoor and toward knob 15 because it will slide along spindle 26. Eitherone of the rockable arms 51, S2 will then be depressed so as to pivotits pawl nger out of locked engagement with the correlated ratchet arm.This may be done by depressing the top of one of the lugs 59 adjacentthe pawl nger with the screwdriver or other tool` Separation of the twoknobs is then possible.

The foregoing described door handle assembly is applicable to all latchdevices of the general type disclosed herein including the type of latchdevice which includes means whereby the door may be locked from one sideby a depressible pin so that it cannot be opened from the other side. lnsuch devices, a depressible pin 81, shown in phantom, extends throughalined holes 82 in one of the escutcheons and associated locking memberand engages a depressible lock member 83 in latch mechanism 12. Upondepression of pin 81, latch bolt 11 cannot be retracted by the door knobmounted on the opposite side of the door.

It it is desired to operate pin 31 from the righthand door knob 15,alined holes 82 in locking member 50 and its associated escutcheonshould be disposed to lie aiong the vertical axis but below thehorizontal axis as viewed in Fig. 3, This will require orienting orangularly displacing member 50 and retaining plate 6G one hundred eightydegrees from the position shown for these parts in Fig. 3 when mountingsame to spindle 26 in order to aline holes 82 with depressible lockingmember 83. It will be understood that latch mechanism 10 has adepressible locking member S3 on both of its sides. As seen from Fig. 3,the righthand door knob assembly is symmetrical with respect to thevertical axis for the purpose of eiecting interlock engagement of thetwo pairs of arms 35, 36 and 51, 52. Moreover, when the part-s are somounted to knob i5, the long brackets 53a, 54a will straddle latchmechanism 16, as shown in phantom in Fig. l, forward of the alined axesof the two spindles.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this inventioncould be madewithout departingV from the scope thereof, it is intended that allmatter con-l tained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door handle assembly for operating a distensible and retractablelatch bolt wherein said bolt is encased in a latch housing recessed in abore and which bore extends into the door from one edge thereof andwherein said door also has a through opening intersecting said bore andextending from one to the other of its two sides, the combinationcomprising, a pair of door knobs mounted in said opening from theopposite sides of said door, each door knob having a spindle extendingaxially into said opening from a correlated door side, a latch bar atthe ends of said spindles for operatively regulating movement of saidlatch bolt wherein alternate rotation of either door knob electsretraction and distension of said bolt, an escutcheon in assembledrelationship on each spindle and having an inner face spaced from andconfronting a correlated one of said door sides, a locking membermounted on each spindle, means retaining said locking members inassembled relationship on said spindles, the irst of said lockingmembers having spaced ratchet arms extending axially into said openingtoward the opposite door knob so as to straddle said latch housing, thesecond of said locking members having spaced rockable arms extendingaxially into said opening toward the other of said door knobs, thelatter pair of arms having pawl ngers adapted for interlockingengagement with respective ones of said ratchet arms, resilient meansoperatively associated with said rockable arms and including pivotalmeans for applying tension to said resilient means and for urging andretaining said rockable arms in interlocked engagement with said ratchetarms when the door handle assembly is firmly secured to said door sothat each arm of one pair clasps a correlated arm of the other pair.

2. Apparatus as dened in claim l, wherein said latch housing is providedwith a slot, and a lug extending axially from the lirst of said lockingmembers and for registering with said slot upon insertion of itsassociated door knob and the parts connected therewith into saidopening, whereby the ratchet arms associated with the aforesaid doorknob are suitably alined to receive the engaging pivotal arms uponinsertion of the other door knob into said opening, said slot and lugengagement also preventing spurious movement of the interlocked doorhandle assembly.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said rstmentioned retainingmeans comprising, a pair of retaining plates, each plate being mountedon a respective door spindle and directly against the locking memberthereon, each spindle having adjacently spaced shoulder stop and groovedcollar, each locking member having a substantially at face confrontingthe shoulder stop of its associated spindle, said plates having meansdefining retaining slots in register with the collar groove of itsassociated spindle, whereby each locking member is retained in assembledrelationship adjacent a shoulder stop.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including, means forpreventing rotation of said first locking member relative to itsadjacent retaining plate, said rst locking member and adjacent retainingplate having engaging peripheral edges for preventing accidentaldisengagement of said retaining plate from its associated groovedcollar, said first locking member having inwardly turned stakes adaptedto bite into the correlated door side upon being drawn thereto by theinterlocking engagement of the opposed door knobs, the aforesaidperipheral edges of said members lying within a peripheral ange of theassociated escutcheon, and spaced detents in said escutcheon flange,said rst locking member having depressed recesses in its peripheral edgefor snap engagement with said" detents, whereby' said escutcheon andtheparts associated therewith" areretained* in assembled relationshipagainst! said door;y Y 5; Apparatus vas definedr in claim 3, wherein theretaining plate adjacent to said second' locking member besembly, theYYss'oi'atedv escutcheon Yhaving a peripheral Aflange surrounding theperipheraledge of said second locking nien-,ther andVtheoutwardly'extending legs of said retaining plate, saidresilient'frn'eans being springs,Y one Y Y for each `pivotal arm, andhaving portions Voperativelyrengag'ingrespective pivotal arms and endloops projecting radially 'toward the surrounding esc'u'tcheon hangs,and detent's' in said escut'cheon flange for snapping over the endEloopsof said springs, whereby said esctcheon and the parts associatedtherewith are retained in assembled relationship against said door, saidsprings being adapted 2 a 'relative atj web portionrfromrl whih opposedto pressA against side of. the doorv upon said assen'lblagfe:`

Ybeing mounted to the door and interlocked-fwith the other` doorV knob:assemblage` wherein said springsy vare held` under tension to retainsaid rockable arms in interloekedrelationship with saidratche't-arms.v

6 Apparatus as defined. in claim^5,'wherein said sec ond locking memberhas an extension foldedV over the web of its associated retaining plateto prevent jammingi of said plate against the grooved collarengagedthereby;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSV.Slater Oct. 8,'1'8'89 412,551 2,344,484 Lesina a1.v Mar. 14, 19442,646,301 cerf July 21, v1953y 2,804,384 schlage Aug.V 27,1957 2,846,255Y wardweu, Jr. Aug. 5, 1958` FOREIGN PATENTS 17,918 Great Bn'tain Nov.11, 1889'l 65,211 Denmark V Nov 25, 1946

